Here is the next chapter of this Greek tale; hope you enjoy! :)

My mind was blank as I stared at the pile of papers that needed to be done, but I could not bring myself to do it. The study was filled to the top with work yet my work ethic just wasn't up for doing anything at all. Persephone was the only image that kept cropping up into my head, to the point where I really thought I was going insane; then again I have to say I am amazed I haven't yet, after all these years stuck underground.

The fire continued to crackle in the hearth, each flame dancing ferociously as it licked away at the crumbling logs. Sighing, I stood up to stretch, only to hear a knocking sound against my oak door. I ushered the person in, to find that it was the boatman of the River Styx Charon, a large skeletal yet powerful man. Each breath he took sounded like a gagging fish, which displayed his age – he had been with me since I was a child, which I can tell you is a very long time ago, although Charon still did not want to retire.

'What brings you here away from your work Charon?' I asked in wonder, sitting back down in my armchair.

'There is a disturbance near the Gate Master; someone has passed through to the Underworld without permission, for they are still living.'

'How could you let them pass?' I hissed in anger, 'That is against our agreement – I thought you had learned this last time when Hercules had the guts to come down to my realm.'

'I ask for your pardon Master. This person is a God, and if I remember correctly, I am not allowed to stop a God.' Charon challenged with a mischievous look – he might be my servant, but that never stopped him from pushing his limits.

My mind was pondering upon who it could be; Ares, it was highly unlikely for that God to dare. Zeus, more likely he would send a messenger down here. Demeter…

'Who is this God?' I asked, fearing that my suspicions might be correct.

'The Goddess of Harvest Master, and let me be rather frank that she is in a...' he wheezed for a moment, '...unpleased mood with the departing with which Mistress Persephone has done to your domain. Why would she be though, for Mistress would have asked permission of her dear Mother before leaving Olympus, wouldn't she Master?'

I wanted to throw this man to Cerberus sometimes, for the way he looked and said the statement to me, clearly showed that he knew full well that Persephone had been forcefully taken without her Mother's consent. For my patience with Zeus upon the matter had worn off entirely.

The problem at this moment was how to deal with Demeter so that she:-

Didn't know that her daughter was here

Didn't suspect her daughter's disappearance was linked to him (unlikely)

Didn't blow his head off with her fiery temper (also highly unlikely)

For you see, Demeter had always had a foul temper, and clearly this had been passed to her daughter, for the mood swings with which the girl endured was severe to say the least.

'Where is Demeter now?' I finally asked.

'At the gate Master, as I said so at the beginning.'

I glowered towards Charon at his concealed amusement – trust him to remind the God of the Underworld for his forgetfulness.

Without a word, I stepped out of the room, with my servant in tow, mentally preparing myself for the temper of Mother Nature herself.

Her impatience was starting to get to her, as she paced at the Gate of the Underworld, with the three headed dog called Cerberus watching her with foul contempt. Sure, all animals were supposed to love her, but this dribbling mutt would never let its guard down except around its Master, where the mangy dog acted like a three month old puppy.

The main worry for the Goddess of Harvest and primary goal was her daughter. Poor girl was probably terrified for her life, and that blasted God of Death would be doing heaven-knows-what with her sweet Persephone; she would never let that happen, and she wasn't going to believe what sort of lies Hades was going to conjure, like a spider does with its web before ensnaring its prey with poisoned pincers.

An aura hit her being, and she knew that he was behind her, and she spun round to face the dark deity. He did not look pleased, but expressed no other secrets beneath his facial expressions. Cerberus whined and sat down, clearly desiring his Master's attention, but not receiving it today.

'What brings you down here Demeter?' his sharp displeased tone slicing the air, 'I have no business with the living unless it affects the dead.'

'Or my daughter you mean?' she hissed, trying with all her might to get a reaction, 'I know you have her Hades and I want my Persephone back; the nymphs told me that they saw you, with my daughter in your hands, drive beneath the earth into your realm.'

'Now you believe in what bimbo nymphs tell you? You have greatly fallen since the last time we met.'

'Where is she Hades; stop side stepping the subject!' she stated, the earth slowly cracking beneath her rage. The God of Death seemed unfazed.

'I don't have the faintest idea where she is Demeter,' he answered bluntly, 'and for one moment do you think that she might have run away from your suffocating embrace?'

His comment stopped her temper rising, and sliced her poor heart in two. Persephone would never run away from home; she might be a little over protective sometimes, but that was only because she cared for her safety. No, Hades was just toying with pleasure to see if she would crumble, but not today and not in front of him.

'Stop lying, for I know she is here and by God if I find that you kidnapped her, you will regret the moment you ever took someone precious from me, Hades.' She vowed, spitting his name as if it were bitter with the sin of all human kind.

A faint smirk appeared on his face – he was utterly clam at her threat.

'Say what you wish, but she is not here. I can tell you that she is alive, for her spirit would have come here.' Hades stated, his eyes staring directly into the bleeding heart of a Mother who had misplaced her babe.

Demeter felt a little hope come into her battered being at the information, but only briefly as he turned on his heels, and left her alone, with a broken heart and an even more broken soul.

Poor Demeter, she may have an over protective personality, but the woman means well. What is she going to do to get her daughter back, and what is Persephone up to back at the castle? Stay tuned for the next chapter and please R&R!